What is the difference between CES therapy devices?(cranial electrotherapy stimulation) 

What is the difference between CES therapy devices?(cranial electrotherapy stimulation) This is a question that comes up quite often, and the honest answer is......they're all actually pretty similar, well, at least the FDA approved CES therapy devices. 

 For quick reference, you may view a comparison of the Top Seven CES Therapy Devices HERE

The most important feature in a CES Therapy Device is to make sure that it is FDA cleared. You will need authorization in order to purchase an FDA cleared cranial stimulator, these can be acquired through your health professional or, in some cases, online at the website that you wish to purchase. Cranial electrotherapy devices work by sending a slight electrical pulse to the brain, this triggers the brain to balance hormones that affect mood, anxiety and insomnia symptoms. All CES devices do this, it's just that some perform this actions somewhat differently than others and some include some extra features. 

Some of the most popular CES cranial stimulation devices that are reviewed are: The CES Ultra, The Alpha Stim, The Fisher Wallace Stimulator, StimTens 1100 & The MyoCalme. These are all good devices and you really can't go wrong with any of them. The Alpha Stim, MyoCalme, StimTens 1100 Pro. and CES Ultra work with ear clip electrodes as a means to reach the nerves that lead to the brain. These are convenient and comfortable to use. The MyoCalme, StimTens 1100 and CES Ultra can also be used with cloth electrodes that can be placed behind the ear as an alternative. 

The new MyoCalme 2.0 now features an internal rechargeable battery. This is an extremely welcome feature and can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of your product. Electrotherapy devices are high-drainage devices due to the fact that they need power constantly, as opposed to a smoke alarm, clock, etc. StimTens is currently offering this device at only $299. Just enter code "299" at checkout. This device normally sells between $399 to $499, so it's substantial savings from the retail price. 

The Fisher Wallace Stimulator, uses wet sponges in order to reach the nerves that lead to the brain, this method also works well. People with longer hair may be advised that it can interfere with the conductivity of the wet sponges, also, there are some individuals that find the wet sponges somewhat unsettling. Additionally, the sponges may have to be "re-wetted" during your session, they may not be as effective once they start to dry. 

Both the Fisher Wallace Stimulator and the Alpha Stim do use electrodes that must be replaced often, this can lead to an additional expense above and beyond the cost of the original CES stimulator as an FYI. 

FDA cleared Microcurrent machines are also offered by some companies that specialize in electrotherapy devices. Keep in mind that these are not for improving mood, at least not directly like CES therapy devices, of course, they can improve mood by improving your appearance and the look of your skin. These devices use microcurrent technology to reduce face wrinkles, fine lines & smooth the skin. The best models use up to 400 microamps. 

There are many ces therapy reviews out there and will point out the positive and negatives of various machines. In general, you will want to look for a ces therapy machine that offers a .5Hz. frequency to treat insomnia, anxiety and depression symptoms. The .5Hz is considered best to treat these conditions, although there are some conflicting theories to this. 

Machines like the CES Ultra feature 100Hz frequency. In general, the 100Hz CES Ultra is more sleep/insomnia focussed, again, there are some conflicting theories to this and success can depend on the individual. Lastly, the most popular FDA cleared devices are mentioned in this blog. There are some others on the market that are not FDA cleared. These can include Atang, Lastek and a few others. These are all the same device; just with a different name. These devices have not meant the FDA requirements and are not considered to be authentic CES therapy devices.